Local government units (LGUs) were encouraged by the Department of Health (DOH) to further boost their Covid-19 vaccination activities before the local election campaign period starts on March 25.

“Sana bago po yung kampanya, kasi alam naman natin aarangkada na yung local campaign ng March 25 so dapat from now up to that time bilis-bilisan natin (I hope before the campaign starts, because we know that the local campaign will begin on March 25— so, from now up to that time, we need to speed up ),” said DOH Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje in an interview with radio DZBB on Sunday, March 6.

In a briefing on Saturday, March 5, Cabotaje said that they will also coordinate with the private sector once the local campaign begins in order to increase the vaccination coverage.

“After that, kung divided nang attention (if the attention is already divided) let us tap our other partners– our private sector, our civil society organizations, even the other government agencies– para tumulong sa pagbabakuna (to help with vaccination),” she said.

The government is also set to hold the 4th national vaccination drive or the “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” on March 10 to 12. Cabotaje said they are aiming to vaccinate 1.8 million Filipinos during the 3-day event.

The national vaccination campaign will be “granular” and “contextualized,” said Cabotaje.

“Ngayon, aralin natin kung ano ba yung sitwasyon ng mga barangay, munisipyo, probinsya--saan ba siya nagkukulang? ano ba yung mababang percentage? Sa fully vaccinated ba? Sa senior citizen ba? Sa mga booster ba? (Now, let's analyze the situation of the barangays, municipalities, provinces—where are they lacking? Is it fully vaccinated? the senior citizens? or boosters?),” she said.

“Karaniwan yung matataas na yung coverage, yung mga more than 70 or 80 percent ang kailangan tutukan yung booster. Doon naman sa mga mabababa, diba from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1 dapat may 70 percent vaccination rate ang isang area. So ayun ang tutukan natin. Mas tutok, mas depende kung ano ang kailangan ng area (Usually those with high coverage or with more than 70 or 80 percent need to focus on the booster. For those who have low --- from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1--- an area should have a 70 percent vaccination rate. So that's our focus. It depends on what the area needs),” she added.

Cabotaje said that they are also coordinating with the uniformed personnel to bring the Covid-19 vaccines in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).

“Dati na po nating katuwang yung mga uniformed personnel natin na pinapayagan at may direktiba na ng ating secretary of Interior and Local Government. Dati nang nakikipagtulungan ang ating mga PNP, AFP, military para sa ganito. Meron din few private corporations that are helping for the transport (We have been working with our uniformed personnel--- who are allowed and have a directive from our secretary of Interior and Local Government. Our PNP, AFP, military have been working with us ever since. There are also a few private corporations that are helping for the transport ),” said the DOH official.